The security of networks and product pipeline infrastructure is critical for any business, as these “highways” for energy and fossil fuels enable any further business, from production, resale, to sales to end users. Energy companies therefore depend on infrastructure, and sabotage does not require much knowledge. This was heard at the round table “Geopolitical Winds and Energy at the Crossroads” at Lider’s conference on the Energy Future of Croatia.
– Our electricity system is very fragile and highly vulnerable, as threats are no longer just technical. It is enough for someone with basic education to choose five pillars and take some action against them, and you have a blackout that will spread beyond Croatia. The risks are very high if we do not react. This is not a cyber attack, but a classic physical attack that can easily have consequences – said Končar board member Ivan Paić.
A similar situation with fossil fuel pipelines was pointed out by Janaf board member Vladislav Veselica. Namely, Veselica explained, the southern branch of the Druzhba oil pipeline from Russia to Hungary passes through Ukraine and is equally susceptible to damage from physical attacks.
– This is such a risk, the pipelines are laid shallow in the ground and regardless of the charters that Ukraine must respect, this pipeline is at risk. Janaf has therefore increased its capacities towards Hungary by three million tons, as it imports raw materials for its two refineries from the Russian Federation. Regardless of living in a digital age, management, middle management, and the human factor are key, as people make strategic decisions. Those who do not recognize the signs on the path will not be able to survive in the long run – emphasized Veselica.
The director of the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, Dražen Jakšić, explained that blackouts, such as the one that recently hit Spain and Portugal, cannot be ruled out due to a number of unpredictable circumstances. However, the state of the electricity network is such that it needs to be renewed.
– We also had a blackout last year in Dalmatia, which spread from Albania and Montenegro. Such situations are always possible, we are well connected with our neighbors, which is a consequence of development in the former state, so disturbances in neighboring countries can spread to us. The state of the network is such that half of it is over 50 years old, its lifespan has expired, and it needs to be renewed, by itself and without increased demand, especially with the need for new connections – said Jakšić.
